56 DECEMBER 2019 Back row, from left: Coach Stephen Danford, Dayton Kaye, Nicholas Moren, Leonard Brown, Cameron Faas, William Clayton, Jerico Fleming, Rashid Smith, Coach Phil Lozevski. Front row, from left: Nicholas Wilber, Maxwell Majerle, Caleb Musfeldt, Jae Singson, Kadin Beler, Casey Greene, Owen Shaw, Kieran Carr. PHOTO: DAVID H SMITH PHOTOGRAPHY By Rachael Bouley The Arcadia High School boys varsity basketball team is working to repeat as 4-A Desert Sky Region champions this season, which kicked off in mid-November. After finishing 19-10 overall last season and 8-2 in their region, the Titans plan to make it to the state playoffs for the seventh year in a row. Head Coach Stephen Danford says there are some key areas that the team needs to focus on this season. “We will be working on our transition game as well as rebounding, being physical in and around the paint,” Danford said. “My goal for the season is that we grow together as a team and family, building trust in one another.” That strong sense of teamwork and friendship will be crucial for the Titans as they welcome six new varsity players this year. The team looks to continue its dominance through their comradery, confidence and command of skills. Pre-season practices focused on comprehensive training, covering offensive and defensive aspects of the game including shooting and rebounding. Danford believes focusing on fundamentals is the key to success for this team. “This is a really mature group with a high basketball IQ,” Danford said. “We have some experience returning from last year’s team but not much, so it’s been a lot of back to basics.” Danford is relying on key players Owen Shaw, Max Majerle, Cam Faas, Kieran Carr, Nick Wilber and Jerico Fleming to keep the team motivated and moving in a positive direction. “We have a talented group,” Danford said. “We have a good shooting team, the guys never quit playing whether up or down. They battle but we do need to improve our rebounding and defense.” Junior Max Majerle sees a lot of potential in his team. “I think we are a tight-knit group that has the ability, we just need to put the work in and see what happens,” Majerle said. “I’m just going to enjoy the time with my teammates. Coach always tells us you aren’t promised today and we have to live every day and play every day like it’s the last time we’ll get to play with each other.” Senior Cam Faas knows what to work toward. “We need to execute on both ends of the floor, play with physicality and have fun,” Faas said. “Wins will take care of themselves; we just have to come prepared.” No matter what the season has in store, Danford says he enjoys every moment leading this bright and determined team. “The simple things are most rewarding, just being around the guys and watching them grow up from freshman to now,” Danford said. “I’m really proud of them. This is a special group.” Arcadia basketball shoots for a successful season 12/3 vs. Prescott 12/6 @ Apache Junction 12/10 vs. Desert Mountain 12/12 @ Poston Butte 12/17 @ Buckeye 12/26 vs. Mesa 12/27-12/30 McClintock Holiday Shootout AHS BOYS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE **All games start at 7 p.m. except for tournament play. ATL ATL ATL MARCH / APRIL SF SF SF COL COL ATL PIT PIT PIT COL CHC HOU HOU HOME SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT CHC SF SF SF CHC SD CIN CIN ATL ATL ATL SD CIN CHC SF AWAY INTERNATIONAL 28 27 26 4 3 2 1 31 30 29 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 25 24 23 22 19 20 21 30 29 26 27 28 25 24 23 22 21 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 CHC CHC MAY WAS WAS NYM WAS NYM CHC WAS DET DET DET SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT NYM MIL WAS WAS WAS MIL STL NYM STL NYM NYM SD SD SD STL MIL 2 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 30 29 28 27 24 25 26 31 23 22 21 20 19 28 27 26 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 SD SD COL COL COL JUNE MIL MIL SD LAD LAD LAD MIL SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SD COL COL COL LAD LAD LAD SD PHI PHI KC PHI PHI SD LAD 6 5 4 3 2 1 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 28 29 30 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 CIN CIN JULY MIA MIA CIN MIN MIN MIN MIA PHI PHI LAD LAD PHI SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT ALL-STAR GAME CWS COL COL COL CWS SF SF SF CWS 4 3 2 1 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 26 27 28 29 30 31 12 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 LAD AUGUST COL COL COL LAD SF SF SF KC KC SF SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT COL PIT HOU PIT HOU LAD LAD PIT LAD MIA MIA CLE CLE CLE MIA MIA PIT 1 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 29 28 27 26 23 24 25 30 31 16 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 STL LAD LAD STL SEPTEMBER SD SD SF SD SF STL SD SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SF LAD SD SD SD SD LAD COL SF COL SF COL LAD 5 1 2 3 4 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 30 27 28 29 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40 6:40

3 8 2 6 N o r t h 5 9 t h P l a c e P h o e n i x , A r i z o n a C a t h e r i n e J a c o b s o n | 6 0 2 . 7 9 0 .1 9 9 2 4 B R | 3 . 5 B A | 3 , 1 0 7 S Q F T $ 1 , 8 8 5 , 0 0 0 | M L S # 5 9 7 3 4 7 1 For More Photos and Information on These and Other Fine Properties, Visit WaltDanley.com Walt Danley Christie’s International Real Estate 5 1 0 8 N o r t h 2 1 s t S t r e e t P h o e n i x, A r i z o n a L i b b y C o h e n | 6 0 2 . 2 9 1 . 1 4 4 6 5 B R | 8 B A | 6, 3 1 5 S Q F T $ 3 , 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 | M L S # 5 9 9 6 2 6 8 7 7 8 8 E a s t M a i n S t r e e t # 1 0 1 2 S c o t t s d a l e , A r i z o n a J a r r o d S m i t h | 6 0 2 . 4 3 2 . 4 7 4 3 2 B R | 3 B A | 2 , 4 4 0 S Q F T $ 6 7 3, 0 0 0 | M L S # 5 9 4 7 8 4 7 6 4 0 2 E a s t C h a p a r r a l R o a d P a r a d i s e Va l l e y, A r i z o n a L i b b y C o h e n | 6 0 2 . 2 9 1 . 1 4 4 6 7 B R | 1 0 B A | 1 1 , 7 5 6 S Q F T $ 5 , 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 | M L S # 5 8 4 3 1 3 6 Representing Arizona’s Finest Properties